Shiny Metal Things

I'm afraid I'm doomed for another month to being very sporadic blogger. I have 4 more weeks of my metals class. I am not complaining, it's the greatest thing ever. It just means I will be a little quieter on the web.

M has finished up basketball and now both kids are in the middle of soccer practice. They both have there first game on Saturday and I can't wait. I am, I must admit, one of those obnoxious parents that stands on the side line and very loudly encourages my kids. However, I am still not as loud as my mother and father...ehem. It's just so much fun to watch them. It's probably a good thing I don't know enough about the games to be able to say more than "get the ball" or "great job".

T is still working hard. Don't know what else to say about that. He is leading AWANA's Sparkies at our church and loves those kids. They seem to think he is very cool as well.

We just finished up spring break and are getting back into the swing. We went to Portland for a couple of days and met Leanne and Billi for a short visit. It was nice to see them and as always, we made fun memories. Billi treated us to Corteo which is a Circe de Soleil show. It was wonderful.

M also got to enjoy some time with her best friend who moved to Beaverton last year. We had a lot of fun joking around with her. It's fun to watch two girls who have been great friends since 1st grade grow up. Mylie Cyrus is what they are all about right now. They are growing way to fast I'm afraid.

Me? Well, I've continued taking metal craft classes and am finishing up my year this month. I had my first metal surfacing class this morning and will have a weekend class that will tackle PMC - which is silver clay that can be sculpted. I have LOVED taking these classes this year and have learned so much. I'll post some pictures of my work at the end of this entry so you can get an idea of what I've been doing. I am beginning to design a few pieces to sell and have gotten good response so far. I have to have some way to support my passion for metal...

So here are my pieces. The first one is for sale and can be stamped with what you would like on it. They are miniature rings made from sterling silver and stamped with my kids names. They measure 1/4" high and 1/2" in diameter. They are meant to wear on a chain or chord around your neck. I am asking $23 for them.


Here are some photos of several other pieces that I've made. There is a student art show coming up in the next couple of weeks that I am hoping to have several pieces in. That would be really great!
This is my first lost wax cast piece. It is a sterling silver ring that has a london blue topaz set in it. The stone isn't set just yet so I carefully placed inside the bezel so you could get a general idea of what it will look like by the end of the week. I learned so much doing this piece and am excited to give it another try with something different.


This is may all time favorite piece to wear. It is a pendant made from 2 domed discs. The top one is made of copper with peacock blue enamel. It is striking and terrific to wear.
This is a poppy pendant is etched onto copper and then enameled with a clear enamel. The etching came from a photo I took of some poppies last summer. It has a bracelet that goes with it. Currently I am still searching for just the right thing to hang it from. Right now it is hung from two ribbons, black on top of copper.

Lastly this is another poppy like the one above only it has had a patina put on it and the it is mounted on a piece of sterling silver to make a bracelet. The links are made from square wire and have 3 different diameters. I am looking forward to wearing this one when the weather gets warmer.

I hope you are all having a lovely spring.

Love,
Tulip